Elettaria cardamomum

RHS Plant Profile

cardamom

Other common names

cardamon, Ceylon cardamom, Malabar cardamom

Synonyms

Amomum cardamomum L. non auct.

Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial

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An evergreen perennial with thick rhizomes producing upright shoots bearing long, narrow, dark green leaves. In summer, shoots spreading from the base carry white, orchid-like flowers with purple, yellow or pink markings, followed by small, aromatic, pale green pods (cardamom)

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Fruit

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Zingiberaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Elettaria are evergreen, rhizomatous perennials with erect, reed-like stems with two ranks of linear to lance-shaped leaves. Separate, horizontal flowering shoots bear three-petalled flowers followed by spherical or ellipsoid seed capsules
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: India

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires tropical conditions to fruit well, but can make a good foliage plant under glass. Grow in fertile, peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added leaf mould or granulated bark in bright, filtered light with high humidity. Pot on in spring

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown with heat as soon as ripe, or by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical

Pruning

Remove flowered stems in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to thrips

Diseases

Generally disease-free but may be suscepible to a virus